08/28/2023 Gifford Pinchot NF Fire Update

 

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Contact: Gala Miller, Public Affairs Officer (360) 891 5014 gala.miller@usda.gov https://www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot/ Gifford Pinchot National Forest Fire Update 8/28/2023– 10 pm  Since Friday over 40 new fires were sparked by lightning on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with the largest being the Snagtooth Fire that resulted from five fires burning together, now covering an estimated 700 acres. The Snagtooth fire is burning in the center of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Forest Rd. 9341 north west of the Lewis River.   In anticipation of ongoing fire activity in the vicinity of the Snagtooth Fire the following roads and trails will be closed to the public to reduce exposure and help ensure public safety: Forest Roads 9300 and 9341 (currently off limits), Boundary Trail #1(from Elk Pass to intersection with Summit Prairie), Summit Prairie #2, Craggy Peak #3, Snagtooth #4, Quartz #5, Stabler Camp #17, Wright Meadows #80, Basin Camp #3A, Quartz #5B, Quartz #5C (French Creek), Snyder Pasture #80A.    A marine layer moved into the region today providing some moister air and cooler temperatures. This helped slow the growth of fire. Despite the moister air abnormally dry conditions persist across western Oregon and Washington. Please follow all fire restrictions. Crews continue to make progress in containment of multiple fires on the forest. In some areas fires within established containment lines have been showing signs of creeping behavior with some roll outs in steeper terrain.    On the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District some fires remain unstaffed as fire fighters focus on higher priority fires like the Grassy Mountain, South Fork, Carlton Ridge Fires, along with the Twin Fir and #1254 Fires burning within Mount Rainier National Park.    The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 will be taking over command of the complex of fires on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Wed., Aug. 30 bringing some greatly needed resources to help fight the fires. Fire Information Phone Line: (360) 497-1111 Forest Web Site: Fire Information